National Collection of Vascular Plants (DAO)

doi:10.5886/giqh2f

National Collection of Vascular Plants (DAO)

Citation

Biological Collections Division (2022). National Collection of Vascular Plants (DAO). Version 1.1. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.5886/giqh2f accessed via GBIF.org on 2023-01-30.

Description

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) maintains a National Collection of Vascular Plants, internationally known by the acronym DAO (for Department of Agriculture, Ottawa). Located on AAFC's Central Experimental Farm, it is the largest collection of its kind in Canada. Properly called a herbarium, it includes 1.5 million irreplaceable specimens protected in a climate-controlled environment. When adequately protected from moisture and pests, dried specimens can last for hundreds of years in the herbarium. This is a tremendous resource that allows identification of plants from anywhere in Canada and supports research on plant classification worldwide. DAO is working to digitize its holdings and make them accessible online. Datasets will be added and updated as this work progresses. Refer to our website for more information https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-science-and-innovation/agriculture-and-agri-food-research-centres-and-collections/national-collection-vascular-plants-dao

Taxonomic Coverages

Geographic Coverages

Global terrestrial coverage. Most of the specimens in the collection are from Canada (about 62%), but the north temperate region of the world is generally well represented (United States of America 20%, Europe 10%).

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Biological Collections Division
originator
position: Biological Collections Division
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
CA
email: aafc.biologicalcollections-collectionsbiologiques.aac@agr.gc.ca

Biological Collections Division
metadata author
position: Biological Collections Division
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
CA
email: aafc.biologicalcollections-collectionsbiologiques.aac@agr.gc.ca

Heather Cole
custodian steward
position: Biodiversity Data Manager
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
Ontario
CA
email: heather.cole@agr.gc.ca

Heather Cole
administrative point of contact
position: Biodiversity Data Manager
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
Ontario
CA
email: heather.cole@agr.gc.ca

Shannon Asencio
administrative point of contact
position: Collection Manager
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
Ontario
CA
email: shannon.asencio@AGR.GC.CA